Peaks Island man sentenced to 60 days in jail for smuggling drugs to father in prison

ROCKLAND, Maine — A 26-year-old Peaks Island man was sentenced last week to 60 days in jail for smuggling drugs to his father, who was incarcerated at the Maine State Prison.

Shane M. Parker was sentenced Aug. 27 by Justice Jeffrey Hjelm in Knox County Superior Court to one year in jail with all but 60 days suspended for trafficking in prison contraband. Parker also was fined $400 and placed on probation for a year.

The defense argued that Parker’s father, David Parker, coerced and eventually convinced his son to try to bring him the painkiller buprenorphine as well as naxolone, which is used to treat opiate overdoses. Parker also brought needles to his father in June 2012, according to the court records.

The plan was for the father to sell the drugs within the prison as a way to give some money back to his family while he was incarcerated.

The defense sought leniency for the son arguing that he suffered from mental health problems.

Hjelm, however, said a jail sentence was called for in this case.

“This is a very serious case,” Hjelm said, citing the amount of drugs involved and the inclusion of syringes. The amount was not specified, however.

Once the drugs enter the prison, they add to the danger of violence, the judge said. He also added that the younger Parker was an adult who could have said “no” to his father.

The older Parker also has been charged with trafficking in prison contraband. His case is pending in the court system.